Artificial limb.



PATENTED-OGT, 2, 1906. J. McGRADY.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB APPLICATION FILED APB..11, 1905. EENEWED MAR. 26, 1906.

@Xhhwawa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

Patented Oct. 2, 1906.

Application filed April 11, 1905. Renewed March 26, 1906. Serial No.308,133.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES MOGRADY, a citizen of the United States,residing at 724 Emily street, Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw andState of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inArtificial Limbs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to artificial limbs especially adapted for usewhere amputations have been made below the knee.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich is very light and durable and which is provided with means wherebythe socket of the leg can be fitted upon stumps of different sizesWithout the necessity of forming a socket of a special construction orsize.

A further object is to provide a protector or cushion for the stumpwhich can be padded or adjusted so as to produce a tight "t of the stumpwithin the socket and which will at the same time prevent the formationof sores as a result of the rubbing which is often produced byill-fitting sockets.

Another object is to provide light simple means for securing the socketin position.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of atubular socket fitted upon a core or block which is pivotally mountedwithin a foot and is provided with means for resiliently supporting theblock or core in a predetermined relation with the foot. A protector orcushion of novel construction is adapted to be secured to the stumpbefore the same is inserted into the socket. This protector comprises aband, preferably of leather, ada ted to be laced or otherwise securedupon t e stump and having a lining adapted to receive a desired quantityof padding, such as wool, so as to form a cushion for the stump and atthe same time support it in proper position Within the band. Aholding-band is adapted to be secured above the knee of the wearer andis connected to the socket by straps which serve to hold said socket inproper position upon the stump.

The invention also consists .of the further novel constructions andcombinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of myinvention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedartificial leg, the socket being partly broken away to show theprotector therein. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly insection, of the protector. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the footand the lower portion of the socket, and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionthrough the block and lower portion of the socket.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a foot formed ofany suitable material and having a toe-section 2, ivoted within a groove3 and upon a suitable pivoted pin 4. The movement of this toe-section islimited by a projecting tongue 5, which extends from the toe-section 2and is movably mounted within the groove 3. A slot 6 extends through thefoot from the top to the bottom thereof and has a pivot-pin 7, on whichis mounted a tongue 8, extending downward from a block or core 9. Blocks10, of rubber or other resilient material, are secured to the front andrear faces ofthe block 9 and bear on the adjoining surfaces of the footand serve to hold said block 9 norpially in a predetermined relationwith the cot.

The block 9 is reduced in diameter at its upper end and forms a shoulder11, and fitting this reduced portion and bearing on the shoulder is asocket 12, preferably formed of sole-leather, which is preferably shapedto simulate the lower portion of the leg. This socket is secured to thecore or block 9 in any desired manner, as by means of screws 13, and theleather of which it is formed is worked so as to be capable ofsupporting a considerable weight without the necessity of utilizingreinforcing means. A holdingband 14, having straps 15 for adjustablysecuring its ends, is connected to the opposite upper end of socket 12by means of straps 16, connected to buckles 17. The band 14 is adaptedto be secured directly above the knee, and by tightening straps 16 thesocket 12 can be drawn tightly around the stump.

In order to provide a tight-fitting and a soft support for the stumpwithin the socket, I employ a protector or cushion such as shown in Fig.2. This comprises a band 18, preferably of stiff leather, havingapertures 19 in its ends for the reception of the lace 20. Alining 21,of chamois or other soft material,

is secured to the outer edge of the band 18 and is adapted to form areceptacle for the padding 22, formed of wool or other like material. Aflange 23 surrounds the upper portion of the band and forms a shoulderat its lower edge which is equal in width tothe thickness of the wall ofsocket 12.

In using the device herein described wool or other like material ispacked between the band 18 and its lining, and said band is then drawntightly around the stump by means of its lace 20 and forms a soft andtight casing for the stump. This casing is then inserted into thesocket, and its flange 23 will rest up on the upper edge thereof. Band14 is then strapped about the leg above and close to the knee and straps16 are tightened, so as to hold the socket 12 tightly against the flange23.

It will be seen that an artificial leg such as herein described is verylight, durable, and comfortable, and prevents the formation of soreswhich are ordinarily produced by the rubbing incident to the use ofheavy ill-fitting devices of this character. The particular constructionof the foot with the resilient supporting blocks 10 permits the jointsto have a movement closely simulating that of the natural foot.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by socket and comprising aband, a loose lining therein and adapted to receive padding between itand the band, means for securing the band upon the stump and supportingmeans secured to the band and adapted to rest upon one end of thesocket.

2. As a new article of manufacture a stump-protector adapted to beinserted within the socket of an artificial limb and consisting of aband, a lining secured within the band and open at the lower end toreceive padding, a supporting-flange secured to one end of the band. foroverlapping one end of the socket, and means for tightening the bandupon the stump.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES MOGRADY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE J. LITTLE, MIOI-IAEL B. MCHUGH.

